PPD Update and Lydia News
If there is one thing I have learned in my four months as a momma, its to trust my instinct and fight for what I know is right for my girl and for myself. I will try to make a long jouney shorter, and please know that my intent in sharing is to A) see if any of your babies have the same condition mine was diagnosed with and B) encourage you all in continuing to trust your instincts as a momma ... we truly have a magnificent bond with our babies that allows us a knowledge no amount of med school can equal.
I have nbeen on meds for five weeks now, and things are stablizing. Bad things still happen, I still worry, and some days I don't get out of my pajamas, but it isn't tragic anymore. My anxiety doesn't reduce me to a panicky mess, and while sucky things still happen, they don't devistate me, and I am so thankful that I sought help and a therapy.
On Oct. 12, L got her first cold. She was in daycare, so neither her PCP or myself was surprised. It was a ccompanied by a barking cough, so Prednisone was perscribed for five days and I was told to watch her. She never ran a fever, and the cough never lessened. The following week, we returned to the doctor because I just really felt something was not right, and an additional three day course of meds was given. No improvment. I have taken her to the doctor, who, by the way is amazing, once a week since then. Each time, he said not to worry and just to wait it out. This, he said, is what happens with kids in daycare. We are now talking a minimum of six visits. At the last visit the Monday of Thanksgiving, he finally concured that things were not normal, and said we were done waiting for it to clear up and he suggested we see an ear, nose, throat specialist in the area. He felt it was rather urgent, and we were seen that week. Soft tissue X-Rays of L's throat and chest were ordered (which was a horrendous ordeal in itself ... back board and velcro straps). After reviewing the X-Rays and scoping L, the ENT said she has a narrow throat, 1/3 the size it should be in one area, and it is shaped like a beaker. She then refered us to the director of ENT at a nationally renowned children's hospital in my area. Again, because of the urgency and becuase I pressed, we were seen immediately. He felt L had an abnormal blood cell cluster on her throat, and scheduled her for a surgical scope the next day. I brought her to the hospital the next morning, and after her scope the doctor reported that he had send her for an angioscan and CT scan because he found that she has a conditon called Innominate Aortic Compression of the throat with a right bend, which means her aorta is pressing on her throat causing it to be collapsed, or a "fish mouth". We were admitted to the hospital while we waited for cardiothoracis surgeons to review her scans and decide a treatment. At ten last night, the surgeon came in and said that L does indeed have the condition, but that surgery was too invasive, and he wants to wait and see if she will grow out of it. The conditon is not neccesarily life threatening, and while not at all common, there are 5-10 cases per year in my area, and less than ten percent of those require surgery. I will now need to watch her resperation and weight stringently, and when she even gets so much as a cold, she will need to be monitored closely. If the condition worsens, severe respiritory distress would be a factor.
We were released today and are now home, resting and while she sleeps, I count my blessings. Did I mention that my husband is thousands of miles away in another country and I had to do all this alone?
Anyway, had I not been dilligent, had I not been persistant, had I not been a demanding mom, we would still be waiting and seeing rather than finding a diagnosis and becoming educated on how to best keep L healthy and thriving.
Moms, follow your instincts and don't take "no" or "wait it out" as an answer when you know something is off ... you are the strongest and best measure of what is best for you and your babies.
I have nbeen on meds for five weeks now, and things are stablizing. Bad things still happen, I still worry, and some days I don't get out of my pajamas, but it isn't tragic anymore. My anxiety doesn't reduce me to a panicky mess, and while sucky things still happen, they don't devistate me, and I am so thankful that I sought help and a therapy.
On Oct. 12, L got her first cold. She was in daycare, so neither her PCP or myself was surprised. It was a ccompanied by a barking cough, so Prednisone was perscribed for five days and I was told to watch her. She never ran a fever, and the cough never lessened. The following week, we returned to the doctor because I just really felt something was not right, and an additional three day course of meds was given. No improvment. I have taken her to the doctor, who, by the way is amazing, once a week since then. Each time, he said not to worry and just to wait it out. This, he said, is what happens with kids in daycare. We are now talking a minimum of six visits. At the last visit the Monday of Thanksgiving, he finally concured that things were not normal, and said we were done waiting for it to clear up and he suggested we see an ear, nose, throat specialist in the area. He felt it was rather urgent, and we were seen that week. Soft tissue X-Rays of L's throat and chest were ordered (which was a horrendous ordeal in itself ... back board and velcro straps). After reviewing the X-Rays and scoping L, the ENT said she has a narrow throat, 1/3 the size it should be in one area, and it is shaped like a beaker. She then refered us to the director of ENT at a nationally renowned children's hospital in my area. Again, because of the urgency and becuase I pressed, we were seen immediately. He felt L had an abnormal blood cell cluster on her throat, and scheduled her for a surgical scope the next day. I brought her to the hospital the next morning, and after her scope the doctor reported that he had send her for an angioscan and CT scan because he found that she has a conditon called Innominate Aortic Compression of the throat with a right bend, which means her aorta is pressing on her throat causing it to be collapsed, or a "fish mouth". We were admitted to the hospital while we waited for cardiothoracis surgeons to review her scans and decide a treatment. At ten last night, the surgeon came in and said that L does indeed have the condition, but that surgery was too invasive, and he wants to wait and see if she will grow out of it. The conditon is not neccesarily life threatening, and while not at all common, there are 5-10 cases per year in my area, and less than ten percent of those require surgery. I will now need to watch her resperation and weight stringently, and when she even gets so much as a cold, she will need to be monitored closely. If the condition worsens, severe respiritory distress would be a factor.
We were released today and are now home, resting and while she sleeps, I count my blessings. Did I mention that my husband is thousands of miles away in another country and I had to do all this alone?
Anyway, had I not been dilligent, had I not been persistant, had I not been a demanding mom, we would still be waiting and seeing rather than finding a diagnosis and becoming educated on how to best keep L healthy and thriving.
Moms, follow your instincts and don't take "no" or "wait it out" as an answer when you know something is off ... you are the strongest and best measure of what is best for you and your babies.
Hugs to you both!
Momma knows best. Happy to hear it isn't anything life threatening. I have never heard of this. But thankfully you are aware, know what to be looking for, and can keep your little girl healthy and safe.
Hope momma is feeling better too. PPD can really take a toll on you.
Momma knows best. Happy to hear it isn't anything life threatening. I have never heard of this. But thankfully you are aware, know what to be looking for, and can keep your little girl healthy and safe.
Hope momma is feeling better too. PPD can really take a toll on you.
When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila & salt and give me a call!
Hi Jennifer ... thanks for checkin in. Yeah, I can't imagine what would have hapened if she had been diagnosed pre-happy pills! Ugh! Even though the condition sounds scary, the doctor says the pictures are much scarier than the baby ... meaning = she's doing so much better than she should be! :-)
I will post new pics soon ... can't believe how big she's getting!
I will post new pics soon ... can't believe how big she's getting!
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